"NO MORTGAGE, NO MOWING" - The Grey Nomad Journeys of Keith and Frances Thompson
Post
November 16-18
Above: Dover with Adamsons Peak behind.
Dover and the Southern Huon River is an area we rarely visited during our ten years in Tasmania, so after four days at Cockle Creek we stopped over at the Dover Tourist Park for two nights.
This gave us the chance to catch up on Laundry (again) and take a stroll along the beach and a drive along the coastline back to the HIghway to the North.
Dover and Esperance Bay
Dover Beach
Dover Wharf
Seagulls, Dover Beach
Fishing Boat at anchor, Dover
Dover Rivulet
Dover Rivulet and beach
Memorial by the Sea, Dover
Memorial by the Sea, Dover
Esperance Bay Dover
Dover Wharf
Esperance Bay out to sea
A drive Northwards along the coast opens up views of the lower Huon River from where it flows into the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, past Huon Aquaculture and to the area looking across to Port Cygnet.
Almost all images (except the top image in each Post) are clickable and will open (on a PC or Tablet) enlarged in a lightbox, clicking outside the lightbox will turn it off.
In most cases images can be downloaded from the Lightbox by right click/save as but images may not be republished without consent and acknowledgement.
Archives
Full Range Camping
Full Range Camping is aiming to be the leading reference website for caravanning and camping in Australia; Keith works part time for FRC while on the road, both researching new and existing sites and providing database management for the site.
"NO MORTGAGE, NO MOWING" - The Grey Nomad Journeys of Keith and Frances Thompson
Post
November 14, 2019 With very changeable weather we had to look at the forecasts and decide when to go and attempt this 16km return walk, or at least part of it. Forecasts were similar for two days but as Thursday started out looking reasonable but cloudy we decided to go. Good choice in the end as Friday turned into rain again and even higher gusty winds.
A couple that we met at Franklin told us they had just been and all the flowering shrubs were in bloom on the plains in the central part of the walk (as per main image) and it was worth it just for that, even if we couldn’t make the whole distance. With Keith’s PN (Peripheral Neuropathy acquired from Chemotherapy ten years ago) walking distance had always been a question mark. In our early years I wasn’t able to go more than about 4km and that has gradually improved to a new record of 11.4km on Maria Island. The challenge of close to 16km, and having pulled out of the total distance to Cape Hauy (shorter but much harder going) we thought we might at least do the centre and see the flowers, perhaps 10km return. Having reached about the 5km mark we were feeling good about the rest and so kept going. I have to say it was worth it for the walk itself and to say that we reached the most Southern easily accessible point of Australia at South Cape Bay. We were however, both suffering a little with the last 2km home having both jarred a knee somewhere on the rocky track of the Cockle Creek end over the ridge…but we did it! …… and this is the view when you get there
The photo gallery tells the story of the progression of the walk; there are vastly different sections along the way from more traditional forest over the ridge to the grasslands of the central plateau and then into dry woodland close to the coast. The flowering shrubs were truly magnificent even though we had just missed a few of the flowering grasses. At the end of the journey we sign out of the walkers registration from where we registered to commence one of the best walks we will probably ever do. This is a very large gallery of images but it is too hard to leave much out from such a great walk.
Almost all images (except the top image in each Post) are clickable and will open (on a PC or Tablet) enlarged in a lightbox, clicking outside the lightbox will turn it off.
In most cases images can be downloaded from the Lightbox by right click/save as but images may not be republished without consent and acknowledgement.
Archives
Full Range Camping
Full Range Camping is aiming to be the leading reference website for caravanning and camping in Australia; Keith works part time for FRC while on the road, both researching new and existing sites and providing database management for the site.
"NO MORTGAGE, NO MOWING" - The Grey Nomad Journeys of Keith and Frances Thompson
Post
November 12-16, 2019 Above: The beach and bridge at Cockle Creek looking outwards from the National Park.
With the weather looking very “mixed” we decided to proceed South to Cockle Creek before going to Bruny Island so here we are at the Cockle Creek Campground. This is the last bit of camping outside the National Park (just) and is accessible more easily with an offroad van as you have to negotiate “lumpy” ground and narrow openings to get into some or most of the camping spots. In the process of turning around we dislodged one of the support arms of our kayak carrier on a tree limb so that is to be fixed at some point soon! There is a small camping area inside the National Park but very little as flat as out here or with much space. This place fills to overflowing in Summer with locals vying with tourists for some space to set up which is why we came now.
Cockle Creek itself runs right behind the Campground and the front of our Landcruiser can just be seen in the picture.
The bridge crosses into the National Park and the Boltons Green Campground area, the NP office is also here which is used only in the peak season, there is also provision for resident staff at this time as well.
From here you can walk or drive about 1km to the end of the track at the Whaler’s lookout and memorial. This can be seen from the bridge as below:
The walk to the Whale takes you through the Boltons Green campground and also allows access to the beach and of course, the views of the whole of Recherche Bay.
Almost all images (except the top image in each Post) are clickable and will open (on a PC or Tablet) enlarged in a lightbox, clicking outside the lightbox will turn it off.
In most cases images can be downloaded from the Lightbox by right click/save as but images may not be republished without consent and acknowledgement.
Archives
Full Range Camping
Full Range Camping is aiming to be the leading reference website for caravanning and camping in Australia; Keith works part time for FRC while on the road, both researching new and existing sites and providing database management for the site.
"NO MORTGAGE, NO MOWING" - The Grey Nomad Journeys of Keith and Frances Thompson
Post
November 9, 2019 Leaving South Arm after 5 days we were intemding to stay with freinds at Glaziers Bay again but they have had too much rain to be able to access the paddock and curretly the winds are very high and gusty as well so an alternative plan was needed. Having arranged to have Monday lunch with some other old friends we opted for the Franklin Campground, a Council owed area for $10/night and the fourth night free (4 day limit). This gave us arriving Friday to leaving Tuesday and also fitted in Saturday night Dinner with friends from Glaziers Bay at The Moorings (the Franklin pub). The plan from here is still to be decided as we want to fit in both Cockle Creek (as far South as you can go) and Bruny Island as well as revisiting Queenstown and Strahan on the West Coast before the Christmas Holiday season is on us.
A walking track extends along much of the Huon River Foreshore here with tables and shelters; the campground area includes a pubic toilet block and a Dump Point and water filling tap. We were also treated to one of the many ducks here taking her new brood for a swim.
Almost all images (except the top image in each Post) are clickable and will open (on a PC or Tablet) enlarged in a lightbox, clicking outside the lightbox will turn it off.
In most cases images can be downloaded from the Lightbox by right click/save as but images may not be republished without consent and acknowledgement.
Archives
Full Range Camping
Full Range Camping is aiming to be the leading reference website for caravanning and camping in Australia; Keith works part time for FRC while on the road, both researching new and existing sites and providing database management for the site.
"NO MORTGAGE, NO MOWING" - The Grey Nomad Journeys of Keith and Frances Thompson
Post
November 4, 2019
Cape Deslacs lies on the Eastern side of the South Arm Peninsula between Clifton Beach and Pipeclay Lagoon/Cremorne. A walking track takes you around the headland and back along the beach with a circuit of around 3km.
The main image is the cape from the track which descends from the lookout to Clifton Beach itself.
Photo Gallery
An Echidna in hiding!
Cape Deslacs Flora
Cape Deslacs Flora
Track Junction and Opening plaque
Path to Lookout
Cape Deslacs Lookout
Clifton Beach from Lookout
View South from Lookout
Lookout from below
Cape Deslacs Flora - Pigface en masse!
Cape Deslacs Flora - Pigface
Cape Deslacs Flora
Cape Deslacs Flora
Cape Deslacs Flora
Cape Deslacs Flora
Clifton Beach from Cape end
Cape Deslacs from Beach Track
Return track to car park
GOAT BLUFF LOOKOUT
Goat Bluff is in the South Arm Conservation Area just North of the final narrow neck which connects South Arm itself to the rest of the peninsula. It looks out to the East towards the Tasman Peninsula and South towards Bruny Island as well as back across the peninsula to Mount Wellington
Goat Bluff Lookout - towards South Arm
Goat Bluff Lookout - towards Tasman Peninsula
Goat Bluff Lookout - towards Betsey Island
Goat Bluff Lookout, Betsey Island and Black Jack Rocks
Almost all images (except the top image in each Post) are clickable and will open (on a PC or Tablet) enlarged in a lightbox, clicking outside the lightbox will turn it off.
In most cases images can be downloaded from the Lightbox by right click/save as but images may not be republished without consent and acknowledgement.
Archives
Full Range Camping
Full Range Camping is aiming to be the leading reference website for caravanning and camping in Australia; Keith works part time for FRC while on the road, both researching new and existing sites and providing database management for the site.
"NO MORTGAGE, NO MOWING" - The Grey Nomad Journeys of Keith and Frances Thompson
Post
November 3-8, 2019 Moving back from the Tasman Peninsula and towards Hobart and the Huon we were going to stop briefly at Sorell again. However, having been there already, we decided to take a detour down to South Arm, a part of the greater Hobart area we had never visited. Here the only camping option is the South Arm RSL for $10/night which includes access to toilets and showers from around 6am to bar closing time (anything from 8-10pm). The Club has an extensive memorial display (above) and is a fairly new modern building also boasting a Golf Club. From the car park and camping area is the view of Mount Wellington rising behind Hobart.
At the Southern end of this peninsula, and the community of South Arm, is the Military area of Cape Direction, alongside which is Cape Deliverance and the Lone Pine Memorial, this is a circle of seven pillars and a Pine tree remembering the seven Australians awarded a VC for their actions at Lone Pine on the Gallipoli Peninsula. You can access this area by walking along an older track or along the beach of Pot Bay through the Blessington Coastal Reserve, about a 4km return walk. From here you get views back to Hobart, across to the Northern end of Bruny Island and a short distance out to the Iron Pot Light, Australia’s oldest lighthouse structure built in 1833.
Blessington Reserve and Pot Bay track to Beach
Northern end of Pot Bay
Pot Bay, South Arm
Blessington Reserve Military Area Warning
Mount Wellington from Pot Bay
The top of Mount Wellington from Pot Bay
Cape Deliverance Tesselated Pavement
Blessington Reserve Cape Deliverance
Pot Bay and Mount Wellington from Cape Deliverance
The Gallipoli Peninsula and Lone Pine Map
The Lone Pine Memorial
Iron Pot from Cape Deliverance
Iron Pot
The Lone Pine Memorial with North Bruny behind
Mount Wellington disappearing from Cape Deliverance
A cruise boat moving down the Derwent
Peppermint Bay Cruises boat moving down the Derwent
Almost all images (except the top image in each Post) are clickable and will open (on a PC or Tablet) enlarged in a lightbox, clicking outside the lightbox will turn it off.
In most cases images can be downloaded from the Lightbox by right click/save as but images may not be republished without consent and acknowledgement.
Archives
Full Range Camping
Full Range Camping is aiming to be the leading reference website for caravanning and camping in Australia; Keith works part time for FRC while on the road, both researching new and existing sites and providing database management for the site.
Almost all images (except the top image in each Post) are clickable and will open (on a PC or Tablet) enlarged in a lightbox, clicking outside the lightbox will turn it off.
In most cases images can be downloaded from the Lightbox by right click/save as but images may not be republished without consent and acknowledgement.
Archives
Full Range Camping
Full Range Camping is aiming to be the leading reference website for caravanning and camping in Australia; Keith works part time for FRC while on the road, both researching new and existing sites and providing database management for the site.
Website Changes and Update:
Please note that we are undertaking a complete update of our website and some Posts and Pages may not appear correctly but will still be readable during this time.
Full Range Camping is aiming to be the leading reference website for caravanning and camping in Australia; Keith works part time for FRC while on the road, both researching new and existing sites and providing database management for the site.
